Greetings friends and fellow travellers to Onnwal, a war-wracked and troubled land.

Before the Wars, Onnwal was a lawful, peaceful, and respected realm. Its merchants plied the Azure and Gearnat Seas, some even braving the Tilva Straits to trade with the Lordship of the Isles. Onnwal’s navy allied with that of Nyrond, the Lordship of the Isles, and the other member states of the Iron (and then Golden) League bravely sailed the waters around the Dragonshead countering South Province aggression.

During the Greyhawk Wars however brave Onnwal fell, its Szek, Ewerd Destron, succumbing to the poisoned blade of an assassin belonging to the mysterious, and much feared Scarlet Brotherhood. Onnwal’s warriors were either enslaved or killed and its vaunted navy fell almost wholesale into the hands of the red- robed ones. With those-who-wear-the red-robes came warriors from the steaming jungles of the south and legions of vicious Hochebi warriors. Other rumours, whispered only at night, and only to those trusted by the teller, speak of red- robed sorcerers bring forth foul creatures and devils to serve the Brotherhood cause. Obelstone Keep, once an Aerdi fortress, seems to be the centre of these foul rites, although the truth of this is not known as none taken there have ever returned. What is certain however is that Sister Kuranyie, Shepherd of Onnwal, quickly became one of the most hated people on the peninsula.

Few tales of the occupation have reached the outside world. Those that have surfaced uniformly tell of a persecuted and oppressed populace at the mercy of their new overlords. Accounts of kidnapping, murder, indiscriminate “justice,” extortion, and cruelty are commonplace. As elsewhere, many of the ruling class of the country were tracked down and killed – indeed, it is believed that the Brotherhood completely exterminated one noble house. Priests and mages not of Suel descent were also particularly persecuted.

Who can tell what untold deeds of treachery and bravery were carried out during the dark days of Onnwal’s subjugation? Perhaps the most infamous example was that provided by Rohal Soldas. Rohal was the Mayor of Sornhill at the time of the invasion and betrayed the town into the invader’s hands and assisted them in the capture of almost all of the ruling family.

Hope was not lost however, as opposition to the Brotherhood’s rule seems to have collected about two people – Jian Destron, son of the assassinated Szek, and Rakehell Chert, thief extraordinaire and leader of the Wreckers. The rebellion burst into life during Brewfest 586 CY. Brotherhood forces, surprised and disorientated, were quickly forced backwards towards Scant. Today the Brotherhood still holds Scant but much of the rest of the country is lost to them. The situation is confused however, and it is known that fighting still rages over much of the peninsula.

Given the current state of Onnwal, accurate knowledge is obviously hard to come by. It is therefore with a cautionary comment that I must finish. Read this account and take from it what you will, but beware that everything presented herein is not necessarily true. While I have made every effort to corroborate the veracity of the information contained within this tome I accept no liability for any injury or death occurring from readers following the material I have collected.

Reydrich Sharn
Nessermouth
12^th day of Coldeven, 592 CY.